Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur ("city of victory") Sikri is an abandoned city about 30 miles east of Agra.  In 1571 the Moghul emperor Akbar moved his capital here (to what had been nothing more than a village), but in 1585 he shifted his capital to Lahore, and the city was deserted soon after.  The palaces have been beautifully restored by the Archaeological Survey of India, and even after UP Tourism raised the entry price to $10 (from 15 rupees) it is still worth a visit.  This building is called Birbal Bhavan, after Akbar's courtier Birbal. 

All of Fatehpur Sikri's buildings are built from the red sandstone so characteristic of Moghul architecture.  This is the Diwan-i-Khas, or hall of private audience.  Although it appears to be two stories, it is actually only one--the inside has a central seat up on the second level, connected by catwalks to each of the corners.  Supposedly Akbar would sit in the center, and his ministers at the corners.

This building is called the "Panch Mahal" ("Five [Story] Palace), and as you can see it decreases in size on each story.  This originally had screens around the edges, and would have been a place from which the ladies of the court could look out, but remain unseen.  The higher floors would have also allowed them to catch a bit of a breeze, which is a welcome prospect in Agra's summer climate!

This photo was taken in Jan. 2003.

According to legend, Akbar had 3 wives--one Hindu (Jodh Bai), one Muslim (Raza Sultana) and one Christian (Maryam).  Each of the wives had a palace of her own, and this is the palace described as Maryam's.  

This shows a "pleasure-pavilion" built in the middle of a pool of water.  The evaporation from the water would have provided some welcome relief from Agra's blistering summer heat.  All of Fatehpur Sikri's buildings are built from the red sandstone so characteristic of Moghul architecture.  This is the Diwan-i-Khas, or hall of private audience.  Although it appears to be two stories, it is actually only one--the inside has a central seat up on the second level, connected by catwalks to each of the corners.  Supposedly Akbar would sit in the center, and his ministers at the corners.

This photo was taken in Jan. 2003.